You can’t go wrong with Southern classics like crispy, golden fried chicken and smoky collard greens. And of course, a big pot of Cajun gumbo with chicken and andouille sausage or Creole-style red jambalaya loaded with chicken, sausage, and shrimp can serve as the main event.
What did they eat on Juneteenth?
Food has always been at the center of these celebrations. “Juneteenth was sparked by barbecue, watermelon, and red drinks,” says Adrian Miller, culinary historian and author of Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue.
What is a traditional Juneteenth menu?
Like July Fourth celebrations, Juneteenth is characterized by summer cookout dishes: barbecue, baked beans, deviled eggs, potato salad, cakes and pies. Red-hued foods are classic — red drinks, watermelon and, recently, red velvet cake.
What are some traditions of Juneteenth?
For some, it’s eating barbecue, shooting fireworks, gathering at a cookout and sipping on red drinks, a tradition that symbolizes perseverance and honors the blood that was shed of African-Americans. For others, it’s shopping only at black-owned businesses, sharing history or resting at home.
What does strawberry soda have to do with Juneteenth?
Strawberry soda is a common feature of the Juneteenth holiday as a nod to the celebrations of slaves in Galveston, Texas, who on June 19, 1865, learned they were free. Those celebrations, according to the Journal Sentinel story, included red food and beverages “to symbolize the blood that was shed by the slaves.”
What is red soda water?
Red Soda Water (and anything else that’s red)
The classic color symbolizes blood lost during the struggle for emancipation or the hibiscus tea that was frequently drunk by slaves during celebrations, depending on who you talk to.
What does red represent on Juneteenth?
It commemorates the day enslaved african-americans were freed on June 19th, 1865, ending slavery. From the foods eaten, festivals planned, and Juneteenth flag itself, there’s one color that symbolizes the rich history behind the holiday—red. … The colors represent the blood, soil and prosperity of africa and its people.
What are Juneteenth colors?
The official Juneteenth flag was red, white, and blue displaying that all American slaves and their descendants were Americans. However, many in the Black community have adopted the Pan-African flag, red black and green. The colors represent the blood, soil and prosperity of Africa and its people.
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Why do people BBQ Juneteenth?
And food is at the heart of many of these celebrations. When it comes to grub, the cornerstones of Juneteenth are red foods and BBQ. Red is a symbolic color representing resilience and the blood that was shed in the struggle for freedom.
How do you greet someone in Juneteenth?
Just say ‘Happy Juneteenth! ‘ The easiest way to wish someone a Happy Juneteenth is by messaging them and wishing them a fulfilled day. Similar to Black History Month, and other important anniversaries to Black Americans, it is important to acknowledge it as an American holiday, even if you do not celebrate it.
What types of special foods are served what is the importance of this Juneteenth?
For some, celebrating means drinking cold glasses of red drinks and feasting on watermelon or spicy red sausages, symbolizing the blood and resilience of former slaves. For others, it means indulging in traditional black Southern cuisine like fried chicken, collard greens and cornbread.
What did slaves eat?
Weekly food rations — usually corn meal, lard, some meat, molasses, peas, greens, and flour — were distributed every Saturday. Vegetable patches or gardens, if permitted by the owner, supplied fresh produce to add to the rations. Morning meals were prepared and consumed at daybreak in the slaves’ cabins.